The best connections to standard and curriculum topics come from the experts:
Teachers! Please take a minute to tell us how you make the case for a field
trip to the Museum.

Research Supports Field Trips!

Current research on student learning before, during, and after field trips
highlights ways that student learning can be maximized on field trips. Below
are some key findings from the research that you can use to make the case.

Select Content Outcomes

Orienting students by showing them a map and
describing the layout of the Museum or by telling them about the things they
will see and do helps them to learn more content while on a field trip. (Source:
Kubota & Olstad, 1991; Anderson & Lucas, 1997)

Students who use well-designed exhibit
guides while
on field trips use more science vocabulary and have more conversations about
science topics on the field trip than students who do not. (Source: Mortensen & Smart,
2008)

Using post-visit activities and lesson
plans helps
students to learn more about science topics they encountered on a field trip.
(Source: Anderson, Lucas, Ginns, & Dierking, 2000)